Absorbent article

ABSTRACT

An absorbent article&#39;such as a pair of absorbent pants, a nappy, an incontinence protection article or the like having a substantially elongated shape is provided. The absorbent article includes a front waist region, a rear waist region and a crotch region positioned therebetween having two leg edge-portions. The absorbent article includes an inner fluid-permeable layer, a fluid-barrier layer and an absorbent core enclosed therebetween. The article also includes elastic elements which are arranged along four different paths. One segment of each path follows at least a portion of a leg edge-portion and the paths together enclose a collection region positioned between the article&#39;s leg edge-portions, which region, under the influence of the elastic elements, bulges and forms a fluid-collecting basin.

The present invention relates to a fluid-absorbent article intended fordisposal after use, such as a pair of absorbent pants, a nappy (diaper),an incontinence protection article or the like with a substantiallyelongated shape and including a front waist region, a rear waist regionand a crotch region therebetween, two leg edge-portions in the crotchregion and an inner fluid-permeable layer which is intended to lieagainst the wearer's skin during use, a fluid-barrier layer which isintended to face away from the user during use and which issubstantially impermeable to fluids, and an absorbent core enclosedbetween the inner layer and the fluid-barrier layer. The article furthercomprises elastic elements.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Fluid absorbent articles such as absorbent pants, nappies, incontinenceprotection articles or the like normally have an elongated shape withtwo end portions and an arch-shaped, narrowing mid-portion positionedtherebetween, which constitutes the crotch region of the article.

Such articles are normally symmetrical at least about their longitudinalcentral axis and, in their planar extended state, have an hour-glasscontour, whereby the arch-shaped leg edge-portions are adapted toclosely envelope the user's thighs during use.

Both of the end portions of the article which form the waist portionsare normally provided with a fastening system, or are attached to eachother along respective side edges, which creates both a waist-opening aswell as two leg openings.

A receiving zone extends between the leg openings in the article'scrotch region, the zone being a part of the article which, duringwetting, first comes into contact with the excreted fluid. The receivingzone, which is comparatively narrow for anatomical reasons, should beable to receive and absorb large amounts of excreted bodily fluid evenover a short time span. During rapid excretion of considerable volumesof urine, for example sudden incontinence in adults, not all the bodilyfluid can penetrate sufficiently quickly through the inner layer and besucked up into the absorbent core. The fluid collects on the surface ofthe inner layer in the receiving zone and can run out, mainly at thelower parts of the user's groin and along the inside of the thighs, aproblem which is often aggravated by the movements of the user. A goodsealing of the article's leg openings is therefore particularly soughtafter.

Such side-leakage does not however only occur due to inadequate sealingaround the crotch region. It has shown itself to be the case that even apoor dimensioning of the receiving zone, for instance an abundance ofabsorption material, as well as a lack thereof, can give rise toundesirable formation of folds in the absorbent core which facilitatesan uncontrolled spread of the fluid which is not capable of beingabsorbed immediately.

It is therefore advocated in the present invention that the receivingzone is given a bowl shape, in which the fluid can be collected at leasttemporarily until it is able to penetrate into the absorbent core.

Absorbent articles are normally provided with elastic members, primarilyalong both of the waist portions and around the leg openings in order toimprove the anatomical fit of the article. In general these elasticmeans are fastened in a stretched state to at least the inner layer orto the fluid-barrier layer, either by adhesive, welding, or in anotherway. In this regard it is also known to provide the leg edge-portionswith elastic members arranged in curved paths, with the purpose ofcreating, during use, a contracting elastic tension around at least aportion of the leg elastics in order to prevent fluid leakage around theuser's crutch.

From EP-0,437,771 it is further known to attach elastic elements alongtwo different wave-shaped paths running across the article. A first pathfollows the frontal portion of the leg edge-portions and a second pathfollows the rear part of the leg edge-portions. The paths cross eachother at the level of the article's lateral central axis in the area ofthe leg edge portions. The tension in the elastic elements varies alongthe paths. One disadvantage with such a solution is that those segmentsof the paths which extend across the article's crotch region exert anundesirable lateral tension in the receiving zone. This results in therisk of folds being formed in the absorbent material and thereby alsothe risk of side-leakage being imminent. In order to minimize the riskof undesirable formation of folds, EP 0,437,771 advocates that theelastic elements are only attached around the leg edge-portions whilethe other parts are maintained in an unstretched state. This is howeveran extremely intricate and expensive way of avoiding the undesirablecontraction of the receiving zone.

The British patent GB 2 276 529 discloses a new way of laying out theelastic elements with the purpose of simultaneously obtainingcontracting tension forces around both the waist opening and the legedge-portions. A plurality of elastic elements are arranged along twodistinct paths, of which a first path extends from one side edge of thefront waist region to the corresponding side edge of the rear waistregion and runs therebetween along the opposite leg edge-portion, whilethe other path describes a corresponding route from the opposite sideedge of the article. Such a solution results more unfortunately inconsiderable disadvantages as soon as it is used. The elastic tensionswhich are obtained only act on a central part of the leg edge-portionsand subject the entire receiving zone to a laterally-directedcompression force, whereby the sought-after sealing around the wearer'slegs is deficient and unwelcome folds considerably diminish theabsorption capacity.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Much trouble has thus been spent on producing an article where the legand waist openings are sealed but still comfortably tight-fitting aroundthe user's waist and legs, so that leakage of bodily fluid out of thearticle is prevented. Despite this, no completely satisfactory solutionto the problem has been put forward.

The basic idea of the invention is, by means of a suitable distributionof elastic forces over the surface of the article, both to create abowl-formed container in the receiving zone, for collection of fluid andfaeces, as well as to create contracting forces around the contours ofthe leg edge-openings in order to give a good seal against the user'slegs. In accordance with the invention it is possible to make use ofelastic forces also in the absorbent article's receiving zone so that,in a controlled manner, bowl-like structures for collection of urine andfaeces are created.

An article produced in accordance with the invention is primarilyidentifiable by elastic elements being attached along four differentpaths, of which a first path and a second path extend from one side edgeof the front waist region to the opposite side edge of the rear waistregion and cross the article's longitudinal central axis on theirrespective side of the receiving zone. A third path and a fourth pathare mirror images of the first and second paths with respect to thearticle's longitudinal central axis. The first path follows the rearpart of one of the leg edge-portions while the second path follows theopposite leg edge-portion's frontal part. The paths intersect each otherat four different intersections, two of which lie on the article'slongitudinal central axis and the other two of which lie in the vicinityof the leg edge-portions, each one being on one side of the absorbentcore. The paths thus enclose an area of the receiving zone which bulgesunder the influence of the elastic elements and forms a bowl-shape.

Said another way, the present invention provides a fluid absorbentarticle intended for disposal after use, that is a pair of absorbentpants, a nappy, or an incontinence protection article. The article has asubstantially elongated shape and includes a front waist region, a rearwaist region and a crotch region therebetween. The crotch region has twoleg edge-portions. The article further comprises an innerfluid-permeable layer which is intended to lie against a user's skinduring use, a fluid-barrier layer which is intended to face away fromthe user during use and which is substantially impermeable to fluids,and absorbent core enclosed between the inner layer and thefluid-barrier layer. The article further comprises elastic elements,wherein the elastic elements are attached along at least four differentpaths, and in that a first path and a second path extend from the frontwaist region to the rear waist region, from a side of a centrallongitudinal axis of the article to an opposite side of the article'scentral longitudinal axis, and in that the first path and the secondpath intersects the article's central longitudinal axis at differentlocations, and in that a third path and a fourth path are mirror imagesof the first path and second path, respectively, with respect to thearticle's longitudinal central axis. A segment of each path follows atleast a part of a leg edge-portion, and the paths together enclose acollection region positioned between the article's leg edge-portion,which region, under the influence of the elastic elements, bulges andforms a fluid-collecting basin. The elastic elements are attached in astretched condition along each path including being attached in thestretched condition along said portions of all said paths enclosing thecollection region.

According to one embodiment of the invention, at least two elasticstrips are attached in a pre-tensioned condition along each of the fourpaths.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the first and secondpaths extend from a portion of the front waist area on one side of thearticle's central longitudinal axis to a portion of the rear waistregion on the opposite side of the article's longitudinal central axis.The third and fourth paths run in a mirror image of the first and secondpaths with respect to the central longitudinal axis of the article.

According to a further embodiment, the first and second paths extendfrom the end edge of the front waist portion around the article'scentral longitudinal axis to the end edge of the rear waist portion onthe opposite side of the article's central longitudinal axis. The thirdand fourth paths run in a mirror image of the first and second pathswith respect to the central longitudinal axis of the article.

An especially advantageous tensile force distribution is obtained byattaching the elastic elements in a pre-tensioned state along fourdifferent curved paths. Two of the paths cross through the middleportion of the article from one side edge of the front waist region tothe opposite side edge of the rear waist region with a varyingseparation in the article's lateral direction. The two other paths runfrom one side edge of the rear waist region to the opposite side edge ofthe front waist region with corresponding separation, i.e. as a mirrorimage of the first two with respect to the article's centrallongitudinal axis, The paths intersect each other at four differentpoints, two of which lie on the article's central longitudinal axis,each on their own side of the central part of the absorbent core, andtwo lie on either side of the article's central longitudinal axis in thevicinity of each leg edge-portion. These four intersection points arecombined with four curved segments, which together enclose a region ofthe receiving zone, the article's collection region. Its contours arebordered by elastic elements which exert a contracting tension aroundthe whole of the periphery of the collection region. Since the tensionis transferred from the elastic elements to the absorbent core, thistends to bulge and rise up along the contour of the collection region,this creating a bowl-shaped basin for collection of fluids and faeces.

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference toembodiments depicted in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 of the drawings depicts a pair of absorbent pants in a planarextended state, said absorbent pants not having been attached togetherinto their pants form, and with the inner layer 7 removed for clarity.

FIG. 2 shows a cross-section of the same absorbent pants along lineII—II in FIG. 1, without inner layer 7 removed.

FIG. 3 shows the absorbent pants in a condition of use.

FIG. 4 shows a pair of absorbent pants in a planar extended state,having inner layer 7 removed for clarity.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

An article for the collection of urine or faeces which is particularlyrepresentative for the invention has been chosen as an embodiment,namely a pair of absorbent pants, primarily intended to be worn by adultpersons who suffer from incontinence, for example sudden-incontinence.

The absorbent pants comprise a front waist portion 2 intended to contactthe user's stomach during use, a rear waist portion 3 intended to be incontact behind the user's back and a crotch region 4 positioned betweenthe front and rear waist regions. The crutch region is intended to coverthe comparatively narrow space of the user's lower pelvis between thegroin creases and the inside of the thighs.

In order to be described more easily, the absorbent pants 1 are shown ina planar extended state, i.e. not attached in the form of a pair ofpants. In reality the absorbent pants do not look like this, neitherwhen they are being taken out of a packet nor when they are in use. Inthese instances the absorbent pants instead resemble a pair of normal,somewhat thick, underpants. The extended state in FIG. 1 may howeverpossibly be present during production of a pair of absorbent pantsaccording to the invention.

The crotch region 4 of the absorbent pants 1 is normally narrower thanthe waist regions 2, 3. The side edges of the crotch region graduallyconverge from the front waist region to the article's narrowest portionwhich is somewhat displaced with respect to the article's lateralcentral axis, whereafter the width of the crotch region increasessuccessively towards the rear waist portion. The side edges of thecrotch region are to follow the shape of the user's trunk from the frontpart of the hips along the converging lines of the groin creases to theinside of the thighs and thereafter diverge around the rear part of thethighs and up to the rear part of the hips. In the extended state, theabsorbent pants 1 thus present the contours of a somewhat asymmetricalhourglass around the central lateral axis X—X.

Each waist region 2, 3 has two side edges orientated in the article'slongitudinal direction and one end edge extending in the article'slateral direction. The frontal end edge 18 and the rear end edge 29 arepreferably the same length. The side edges of the waist regions extendby the same amount in the shown embodiment.

The crotch region 4 of the absorbent pants is longer in the article'slength direction than each waist region 2, 3, The length of the crotchregion 4 suitably constitutes between half and three-quarters of thearticle's 1 total length, preferably about two thirds of the article'stotal length. The crotch region 4 is narrower than the other parts ofthe article and its smallest part suitably constitutes about one thirdof the article's total width. The lateral dimension of the absorbentpants 1 is constant in the waist area. The side edges of the crotchregion 4 assume an even concave arc on either side of the article'scentral longitudinal axis; an arc which basically describes asemi-circle or a half-ellipse and is dimensioned to surround the user'sthighs during use. The absorbent pants 1 are made up of three differentlayers 7, 8, 20 and absorbent core 9. The absorbent pants thus comprisean inner, fluid-permeable layer (sheet) 7 of, for example, hydrophillicfibrous material, so-called “non-woven”, comprising fibres of e.g.polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester or mixtures of these, which innerlayer 7, during use, faces inwardly towards the side of the absorbentcore 9 directed towards the user. The inner layer 7 might also consistof, or comprise, viscose fibres or it might be constituted by aperforated plastic film, a plastic net, or a sheet of fluid-permeablefoam material.

Additionally, the absorbent pants present a fluid-impervious, or atleast fluid-repelling fluid-barrier layer 8 of plastic material, forexample polyethylene or a hydrophobic fibre material, possibly a fibrematerial which has been suitably impregnated, or alternatively anothersuitable material, said fluid-barrier layer 8 being intended to beaffixed to the side of the absorbent core 9 which, during use, facesaway from the user. A third layer 20, in the following referred to asthe outer layer 20, of fibre material or the like for example, isfastened or laminated onto the side of the fluid-barrier layer 8 whichfaces away from the absorbent core 9. The outer layer 20 has the primarypurpose of giving the outside of the absorbent pants 1 a textile-likeguise, at least to the touch but also to a certain extent with respectto its appearance.

The absorbent pants 1 also comprise, as already mentioned, an elongatedabsorbent core 9 in the longitudinal direction of the article, the core9 being enclosed between the inner layer 7 and the outer layer 20. Theextent of the inner layer 7 coincides with the total extent of theabsorbent pants and is joined, by means of adhesive, heat-sealing,ultra-sound welding or another suitable conventional method, to thefluid-barrier layer 8 and to the outer layer 20. The layers 7, 8, 20 arejoined over the surfaces which extend outside the absorbent core 9 andtogether thereby form an envelope which encloses the absorbent material.The absorbent core 9 can for example contain cellulose fibres and caneven comprise other absorbent materials such as polymeric hydrocolloidalmaterials, in particle form for example. Such materials, generally knownunder time name “superabsorbents” have the capacity to absorb many timestheir own weight of fluid. The absorbent core 9 can also containnon-absorbent materials such as thermoplastic fused-fibres having thepurpose of strengthening the absorbent core 9 or improving its tendencyto spring back after having been subjected to compression in a package,or in connection with use. The absorbent core 9 can advantageously bymade up of a plurality of different layers of absorbent material, or ofdifferent regions which present mutually different characteristics withregard to their capacity for absorbing, spreading and storing fluid. Theabsorption speed can be raised in the receiving zone by a suitablechoice of fibre structure, while the capacity to store and retain fluidcan be improved in parts of the absorbent core 9 which do not lie indirect contact with the receiving zone and towards which fluid can bespread, by using a higher amount of superabsorbent.

The absorbent core 9 further presents a front end portion 21, a rear endportion 22 and a central portion 23 positioned therebetween, two sideedges and two end edges. The shape of the absorbent core issubstantially rectangular, possibly with somewhat wider end portions 21,22 and a somewhat narrowing central portion 23 in comparison thereto.The absorbent body 9 is narrower and shorter than the inner layer 7 andsuitably, as shown in FIG. 1, displaced forwardly in the absorbent pants1, whereby the front end portion 21 of the absorbent core 9 extends overa part of the front waist portion 2 of the absorbent pants i and theabsorbent core's central portion 23 is arranged in the crotch region 4of the absorbent pants.

The fluid-barrier layer 8 does not have to have the same extent in thelengthwise direction as the inner layer 7, but instead can extend onlyto a point just outside the end edges of the absorbent core 9, wherebylarge parts of the rear portion of the absorbent pants are not coveredby fluid-proof material, which is something which allows and facilitatesair permeability through these parts. The fluid-barrier layer 8 can ofcourse extend over substantially the total area of the article in orderto ensure a better protection against leakage. In such a case, the outerfluid-impervious layer 8 should consist of an air-permeable andvapour-permeable material or should be provided with perforations overparts of the regions which do not cover the absorbent core 9.

The textile-like outer layer 20 and the fluid-barrier layer 8 aresuitably united with one another over the whole common area of thelayers, by lamination using any suitable conventional method, such asgluing, heat-sealing, ultra-sound welding, extrusion-coating or similar.The textile-like rear layer consists of a vapor-permeable material andextends over the whole rear side of the article. The inner layer 7 andthe outer layer 20 can be constituted of like materials and be connectedwith each other over those parts of the article which extend outside theabsorbent core 9.

A plurality of elastic elements 24, for example threads, strips or thelike are attached in a stretched state across the front as well as therear waist region 2, 3. The number of elastic elements 24 can vary andis by no means limited to that depicted in the figures. The elasticelements 24 are continuously or intermittently attached with adhesive,or attached in another suitable way, between the inner layer 7 and thetextile-like outer layer 20, or joined to at least one of the innerlayer 7, the fluid-barrier layer 8 or the outer layer respectively,across the frontal waist region 2 and the rear waist region 3.

In accordance with an alternative embodiment, the inner layer 7 isfolded over along the article's end edges 18, 19, over the whole of, orat least part of, the waist regions 2, 3, whereby the elastic elements24 are attached in the fold which is thereby formed in the inner layer7.

By means of the elastic elements 24, both the waist regions 2, 3 of theabsorbent pants 1 are given an elasticity and stretchability such that,during use, they sealingly surround the user's waist in a close andpliant manner. Instead of the elastic threads or strips, a sheet or anet of elastically extensible material, such as an elastic fibermaterial or foam material, can of course be laminated over at leastparts of the two waist regions 2, 3. Such an elastically extensible filmcan for example comprise ethylene-vinyl-acetate, ethylene-acrylic acid,ethyl-butyl-acetate, polyurethane, styrene-butadiene, polybutadiene,polyisoprene, isoprene rubber or ethylene-propylene rubber.

The waist regions 2, 3 of the absorbent pants further comprise elasticelements 25, attached along respective end edges 18, 19 of the article.These elements 25 can also be pre-tensioned attached threads, strips orthe like. They however preferably exhibit larger stretching andcontraction forces than the separate elastic elements in theaforementioned elasticated stretchable waist regions 2, 3. As analternative to providing the waist regions 2, 3, with elastic elements24, 25, the waist regions 2, 3 can be constituted by an elasticallystretchable material.

The absorbent pants 1 further comprise an array of elastic elementswhich also extend in the article's central portion 4 and which basicallyhave the purpose of creating sealing edges surrounding the user's legsin use and also forming a bowl-shaped region in the middle of theabsorbent pants crotch region 4, intended to collect excreted fluid. Thebowl-shaped region coincides substantially with the so-called receivingzone/region of the absorbent pants, which is the part of the absorbentpants' crotch region 4 which during use is first wetted by the bodilyfluid excreted into the article.

The crotch region 4 of the absorbent pants presents two side edges 5, 6,which are substantially semi-circularly, or semi-elliptically, curved ina concave manner with respect to the central longitudinal axis of thearticle, said edges 5, 6 constituting the article's first and second legedge-portions 5, 6. The crotch region 4 of the absorbent pants alsopresents four corners A, B, C, D; namely a first corner A positioned onthe borderline between the first side edge of the front waist region 2and the first leg edge-portion 5; a second corner B positioned on theborderline between the second side edge of the frontal waist region andthe second leg edge-portion 6; a third corner C positioned on theborderline between the first side edge of the rear waist region 3 andthe first leg edge-portion 5, as well as a fourth corner D positioned onthe borderline between the second side edge of the waist region 3 andthe second leg edge-portion 6.

Elastic elements 10 are attached along at least four different curvedpaths 11, 12, 13, 14, of which a first path 11 and a second path 12extend from the first side edge of the front waist region to theopposite side edge of the rear waist region, from a point close to thefirst corner A to a point close to the fourth corner D, i.e. basicallydiagonally over the article's crotch region 4 along different routesfrom the frontal part of the first leg edge-portion 5 to the rear partof the second leg edge-portion 6. A third path 13 and a fourth path 14run from the first side edge of the rear waist region to the oppositeside edge of the front waist region, from a point close to the thirdcorner C to a point close to the second corner B, i.e. basicallydiagonally over the article's central region 4 along different routesfrom the rear part of the first leg edge-portion 5 to the frontal partof the second leg edge-portion 6.

The first path 11 extends, as can best be observed in FIG. 1, from apoint close to the first corner A in an evenly-curved arc to anintersection point 28. The first path 11 and the third path 13 meet atthe intersection point 28 which is positioned on, or in the immediatevicinity of, the article's central longitudinal axis 16 on a level withthe front portion 21 of the absorbent core. The first path 11 thereaftercurves from the intersection point 28 towards the other leg edge-portion6 and crosses the fourth path 14 at its point of inflection 30,positioned close to the second leg edge-portion 6 on a level with thearticle's narrowest portion. By point of inflection is meant the pointwhere the radius of curvature of a curve changes sign, i.e. where thecurvature of the curve shifts from being convex to concave, orvice-versa.

The first path 11 substantially follows the rear part of the second legedge-portion 6 from the point of inflection 30, along the arc-shapedcontour up to a point close to the fourth corner D.

The second path 12 basically follows the front portion of the first legedge-portion 5, along its arc-shaped contour, from a point near to thefirst corner A to a point of inflection 31 positioned close to theborder of the first leg edge-portion 5, on a level with article'snarrowest part. Both points of inflection 30, 31 lie at the same levelon either side of the article's central longitudinal axis 16.

The second path 12 crosses the third path 13 at the point of inflection31 and then curves in a direction towards the article's centrallongitudinal axis 16. The second path 12 crosses the fourth path 14 atan intersection point 29 positioned on, or in the immediate vicinity of,the article's central longitudinal axis 16 on a level with the rearportion 22 of the absorbent core, whereafter the second path curves to apoint close to the fourth corner D.

The third path 13 is a mirror image of the first path 11, or moreprecisely expressed is a 180° rotation of the first path 11 around thearticle's central longitudinal axis 16. The fourth path 14 is similarlya 180° rotation of the second path 12 around the article's centrallongitudinal axis 16.

Consequently the four paths 11, 12, 13, 14, in FIG. 1 form aconfiguration in accordance with the following:

The first path 11 starts in the article's lateral direction from thefirst side edge of the front waist region 2, at the frontal portion ofthe first leg edge-portion 5 and then curves continuously, i.e. deviatesgradually from the lateral direction, to its point of inflection 30. Atthe point of inflection 30, the direction of path 11 is tangential tothe contour of the leg edge-portion 6, after which the path 11 curvesaround the rear part of the second leg edge-portion 6 to the second sideedge of the rear waist region 3 where the path is again directedlaterally to the article. At its point of inflection 30, the path formsan angle of between 45 and 90 degrees, preferably between 60 and 80degrees, to the article's lateral direction. The second path 12 startsin the article's lateral direction from the first side edge of the frontwaist region and curves around the frontal part of the first legedge-portion 5 to its point of inflection 31 which is positioned closeto the first border of the first leg edge-portion 5 on the same level asthe point of inflection 30 of the first path 11.

The first and second paths 11, 12, basically have the same direction atrespective points of inflection 30, 31. The second path thereaftercurves over tire rear portion of the absorbent core to the second sideedge of the rear waist region. The third path and the fourth path 13,14, are mirror images of the second and first path 12, 11, respectively.

At least a part of each path runs over the absorbent core. The firstpath 11 crosses the fourth path 14 outside the side edge of theabsorbent core at the point of inflection 30. The second path 12 crossesthe third path 13 outside the opposite side edge of the absorbent coreat the point of inflection 31. The first and the third paths 11, 13 havetheir intersection point 28 in the frontal part 21 of the absorbent coreand the second and fourth paths 12, 14 have their intersection point 29in the rear part 22 of the absorbent core. In this way, the fourdifferent paths 11, 12, 13, 14 enclose a region 15 positioned in thearticle's crotch region 4, which region 15 basically has the form of arhombus with convex curved sides and which is determined by the fourpoints 28, 30, 29, 31.

The above-defined, curved rhombus-shaped area of the receiving zone issymmetrical about the article's central longitudinal axis. The shortdiagonal of the rhombus extends in tile article's lateral direction overthe narrowest part of the crotch region between the leg edge-portions 5,6, while its long diagonal runs over the absorbent core along thearticle's central longitudinal axis between the front and rear part ofthe absorbent core. This curved rhombus-shaped region constitutes thearticle's collection region 15 and is intended, during use, totemporarily retain the portion of the fluid which is not immediatelytaken up by the absorbent material.

It is therefore desirable to give the collection region 15 a bulgingbowl-shape primarily for preventing the fluid from running out sidewaystowards the leg edge-portions 5, 6. One or more elastic elements 10 suchas threads, strips or the like are attached in a pre-tensioned statesubstantially along the four different paths 11, 12, 13, 14 and theseexert a contracting tension directed towards the respective radii ofcurvature.

In a preferred embodiment, the two elastic elements 10, for exampleconsisting of flat elastic strips, are arranged along each path, saidelements being joined to at least one of the layers 7, 8, 20. The stripsare preferably attached between the fluid-barrier layer 8 and the outertextile-like layer 20 and tensioned over its whole extent. The stripsare continuously, or intermittently, fixedly adhered to at least theouter textile-like layer 20. The strips can of course be affixed withother conventional methods.

The elastic strips can also be attached to the inside of the article,i.e. on the side of the inner layer 7 which faces the absorbent core 9,which is something that gives rise to certain advantages with regard tothe desire of giving the collection zone 15 an outwardly-bulging shape,but which however increases the risk of skin irritation.

In a preferred embodiment, at least two elastic threads or strips areattached to the side of the outer, textile-like sheet 20 which faces thefluid-barrier layer 8. The separation distance of the strips can beconstant or it can vary along the respective path. In a preferred case,the separation distance of the strips varies proportionally with ah iangle which the path forms with the article's lateral direction, asillustrated in FIG. 4. The separation distance between the stripsconsequently has its greatest value at the path's respective point ofinflection where the strips can be separated by an amount of between onemillimeter up to many centimeters, preferably between three millimetersand fourteen millimeters. Said another way, the separation distance ofthe elements in the respective path, measured perpendicular to theelements at a given point on the path, is proportional to an angle whichis formed between the article's lateral direction and a path tangent atthe given point. In the vicinity of the side edges of the waist regions2, 3 the separation distance is suitably reduced.

In an alternative embodiment, a plurality of elastic strips can bearranged along each path. The distance between the innermost andoutermost strips running along one and the same path should then besufficiently large in order to raise up the leg edge-portions towardsthe inside of the article and thereby form leakage barriers on eitherside of the absorbent core.

The different elastic elements which run along one and the same path mayadditionally be attached with different tensions, or may bepre-tensioned with varying tensions in different segments of tile path.The points of inflection 30, 31 do not have to be positioned outside theabsorbent core's side edges but can just as well be positioned insidethese. In the same way, the intersection points 28, 29 can lie outsidethe end edges of the absorbent core or in respective waist regions.

At least one of the different elastic elements which run along one andthe same path can, in those places where the path is tangential to theedges of the absorbent core, extend inside the absorbent core whilst theremaining elements run outside of this.

The collection region 15 is, as already stated, surrounded by foursegments of elastic paths 11, 12, 13, 14 and thereby also bordered bythe pre-tensioned attached elastic elements 10 which exert a contractingforce along its whole contour. In this way a closed elastic circuit iscreated which tends to be drawn together into its relaxed state. Whetherthe elastic elements 10 are arranged on the outside or the inside of theabsorbent core 9, the same will bulge under the influence of the elasticcircuit's contracting force. At each point, the contracting elasticforce is directed along the path and consequently has a tangentialcomponent and a radial component directed perpendicularly to this. Theformer is directed along the path's tangent at the point of action andthe latter points along the radius of curvature. The tangentialcomponents cooperate in order to shrink the perimeter of the collectionregion. Since the edges of the collection region are curved in a convexmanner, all of the radial force components act towards the interior ofthe collection region.

Since the elastic elements are directly or indirectly united with theabsorbent core's flexible material, the force can be transferred to thesame. For example, at the intersection points 28 and 29, the resultantof the cooperating radial force components from the paths 11 and 13 and12 and 14 respectively will point along the article's centrallongitudinal axis towards the center of the collection region. In thesame way, one can easily be assured that the resultant forces from thecooperating radial components at the points of inflection 30 and 31 willpoint in the lateral direction towards the center of the collectionregion.

Since the collection region is symmetrical, the radial force componentsfrom both sides cancel out each other along the article's centrallongitudinal axis, along which the absorbent core folds together in thelateral direction under the influence of the tension, at the same timeas the absorbent core also curves in the lengthwise direction. In thisway the collection region's 15 area tends to bulge and form acanoe-shaped basin between the leg edge-portions 5, 6. In the same way,the leg edge-portions 5, 6 are bordered by elastic elements which areintended, during use, to exert a contracting force around the user'slegs.

The absorbent pants, as mentioned earlier, have up until now beendescribed in their non-joined state, a state in which the waist regionsare not combined with one another. A waist opening and two legedge-portions are created by folding the article about its centrallateral axis in such a way that both end edges coincide. In this way thefirst and second side edges of the front waist region are made tocoincide with the first and second side edges respectively of the rearwaist region. By securing together the waist regions along the sideedges a finished pair of absorbent pants is obtained which very closelyresembles an ordinary pair of underpants in shape and appearance. Thematerial around the waist opening is elastically stretchable in at leastthe articles's lateral direction, due to the lateral elastic elements24, 25. The frontal part of the first leg edge-portion is surrounded byparts of the second and third paths 12, 13 which are united at one ofthe waist opening's joints. In the same way, the second leg edge-portionis surrounded by parts of the first and fourth paths 11, 14, which areunited at the waist opening's second joint.

The invention is of course not limited to the above-describedembodiments. Other ways of depicting the basic idea behind the inventionare described in the following with reference to the figures.

As concerns the production of the article, the invention isextraordinarily well-suited to lateral production, i.e. production inwhich a running web of material from which the articles are formed isdisplaced substantially in the article's lateral direction. In this way,the elastic elements are arranged along four different wave-formed,paired, mirror-image paths. The invention can also be applied inlongitudinal production. This is intended to mean production in which arunning web of material, from which the articles are formed, isdisplaced substantially in the article's lengthwise direction. In such acase, the elastic paths will extend from the article's one end edge tothe opposite end edge and will otherwise be arranged according tobasically the same configuration as in the preceding embodiment.

In an alternative embodiment, the elastic elements can be arranged alongsubstantially straight lines, or along one of a plurality of essentiallystraight segments forming a combined run, possibly with rounded corners.A characteristic of the elastic paths, whether they be straight orcurved, is that they start at one side of the article and run to theopposite side, i.e. that they intersect the article's centrallongitudinal axis and that each path is at least tangential to thecontour of the frontal part or the rear part of one of the legedge-portions, in such a way that both said contours will be tangentialat at least one position of its frontal part and one position of itsrear part. The term “be tangential” should be understood here to be suchthat the path has at least one point which borders the legedge-portion's contour, without it necessarily having to coincide withthis. This implies that a first path can extend from the frontal part ofone side of the article and be tangential to the front part of the firstleg edge-portion while a basically mirror-image path extends from thefrontal part of the article's opposite side and is tangential to thefrontal part of the other leg edge-portion. In the same way, a thirdpath runs from the rear part of one side of the article and istangential to the rear part of the first leg edge-portion, at the sametime as a fourth path, substantially a mirror-image, runs from the rearpart of the article's opposite side and is tangential to the rear partof the second leg edge-portion. The paths can be parallel in pairs, atleast over a part of the article's crutch region. If the paths arestraight, they will together form a rhombus or a parallelogram in thearticle's receiving zone, with one diagonal directed along the article'scentral longitudinal axis.

The elastic elements can additionally be attached in a configurationwhere the front intersection point 28 is positioned in the frontal waistregion and the rear intersection point is in the rear waist region,whereby the elastic elements also contribute to creating contractingforces around the waist opening.

What is claimed is:
 1. A fluid-absorbent article intended for disposalafter use, that is a pair of absorbent pants, a nappy, or anincontinence protection article, with a substantially elongated shapeand including a front waist region, a rear waist region and a crotchregion therebetween, said crotch region having two leg edge-portions,the article further comprising an inner fluid-permeable layer which isintended to lie against a user's skin during use, a fluid-barrier layerwhich is intended to face away from the user during use and which issubstantially impermeable to fluids, and an absorbent core enclosedbetween the inner layer and the fluid-barrier layer, said articlefurther comprising elastic elements, wherein the elastic elements areattached along at least four different paths, and in that a first pathand a second path extend from the front waist region to the rear waistregion, from a side of a central longitudinal axis of the article to anopposite side of the article's central longitudinal axis, and in thatthe first path and the second path intersect the article's centrallongitudinal axis at different locations, and in that a third path and afourth path are mirror images of the first path and second path,respectively, with respect to the article's longitudinal central axis,and in that a segment of each path follows at least a part of a legedge-portion, and portions of all the paths together enclose acollection region positioned between the article's leg edge-portions,which region, under the influence of the elastic elements, bulges andforms a fluid-collecting basin, the elastic elements being attached in astretched condition along each path including and being attached in thestretched condition along said portions of all said paths enclosing thecollection region.
 2. The article according to claim 1, wherein thefirst path and the second path extend from a side edge of the frontwaist region to an opposite side edge of the rear waist region.
 3. Thearticle according to claim 1, wherein the first path runs around atleast a portion of a front part of one of said leg edge portions whilstthe second path runs around at least a portion of a rear part of anopposite one of said leg edge portions.
 4. The article according toclaim 1, wherein the first path and the second path each intersect thearticle's central longitudinal axis on a different side of a centralpart of the absorbent core, and in that the collection region extends ina lengthwise direction between two intersection points defined thereby.5. The article according to claim 1, wherein the second path and thethird path intersect one another close to one of the leg edge-portions,and in that the first path and the fourth path intersect one anotherclose to an opposite one of said leg edge portions, and in that thecollection region extends in the lateral direction between intersectionpoints defined thereby.
 6. The article according to claim 1, wherein thesecond path and the third path intersect one another outside a side edgeof the absorbent core, and in that the first path and the fourth pathintersect one another outside an opposite side edge of the absorbentcore.
 7. The article according to claim 1, wherein the first pathextends around a back part of the second leg edge-portion at least fromthe intersection point between the first path and the fourth path, to acorresponding side edge of the rear waist region, and in that the secondpath extends around a front part of the first leg edge-portion from acorresponding side edge of the front waist region at least to theintersection point between the second path and the third path.
 8. Thearticle according to claim 1, wherein at least two elastic elements areattached in a stretched condition along each path, and in that aseparation distance between the elements varies along each path.
 9. Thearticle according to claim 8, wherein the separation distance of theelements in a respective path, measured perpendicular to the elements,at a given point on the respective path, is proportional to an anglewhich is formed between a lateral direction of the article and a tangentof the respective path at the given point.
 10. The article according toclaim 1, wherein the elastic elements are continuously or intermittentlyjoined to a side of the fluid-barrier layer which faces the absorbentcore.
 11. The article according to claim 1, wherein the elastic elementsare continuously or intermittently joined to a side of the innerfluid-permeable layer which faces the absorbent core.
 12. The articleaccording to claim 1, wherein an outer layer covers a side of thearticle which faces away from the user during use, and in that theelastic elements are continuously or intermittently joined to a side ofsaid outer layer which faces the absorbent core.
 13. The articleaccording to claim 1, wherein said at least four different paths arecontinuously curving paths.